Semesters by World Race
Know God. Create Community. Make an Impact.
AGE RANGE: 18 — 22
LENGTH: 1-6 MONTHS
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Fall 2020 : (3 Months)
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Summer 2020: (2 Months)
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Summer 2020: (1 Months)
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Spring 2020: (6 Months)
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Process
How do I know if it's really God speaking?
Testimonials
“95% of Gap Year Racers would recommend the World Race to people looking for a discipleship program focused on missional living.”
My favorite part of my Race is what God did in my heart, He burst out of the small box I had put Him in and showed me how big He is and showed me His loving, compassionate, bold, just, and merciful character.
God has taken me to incredible places. I've been able to see and experience brokenness. I've noticed that heaven is all around us, not necessarily just in the beauty of His creation, but also the people.
Truly life-changing ...we grew immensely.
[It was] adventure, dying to self, messing up, redemption, laughter, tears, heartache, joy, and love.
One of the greatest pieces of my spiritual journey yet
God used The World Race to bring about an abundance of transformation and freedom to my life.
The worldly exposure my daughter gained has truly made her a more compassionate person. I loved that it helped her find her calling in sharing the gospel through videography.
We were very impressed with the level of planning and risk management that goes into the WR. It was an outstanding experience for both our Racer and us too. The whole process is very intentional.
It's so encouraging what the World Race does in terms of life transformation to the Racers and our communities that they reach out to. It's not affecting the Racers only, but the partners and communities.
Do you have what it takes to be a World Racer?
Semesters Commitment
What am I committing to with World Race: Semesters?
Intimacy - choosing to trust
- Identity rooted in Christ - (Galatians 2:20) You are committed to becoming more like Jesus. You will run your race with a “yes” in your spirits. We are looking for people who are ready to deal with their past and move forward. We want to see you walking into the fullness and fruitfulness God has for you.
- Faith grounded in Scripture - (2 Timothy 3:16-17) You are committed to dive into Scripture through avenues like Bible Studies that we will provide for you, to learn and grow into deeper connection with God.
- Relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit - (Hebrews 4:16, James 4:8) You are committed to humbly approach God, drawing near to Him as He draws near to you. This will require abandoning areas that you have clung to in the past for comfort and allowing Him to lead you through brokenness and into dependence on Him.
Community - choosing humility
- Spiritual Gifts Activated - (1 Cor. 12: 4-6) You are committed to activate your teammates and squadmates in the gifts they have been given, humbly celebrating the differences you see around you, while also stepping into the gifts you have been given.
- Feedback - (Hebrews 10:24-25) You are committed to encourage and challenge the people around you to look more like Jesus on a daily basis.
- Unity - (John 13:35) You are committed to chose to love your brothers and sisters in all things. You will form relationships that are emotionally safe and vulnerable.
Mission - choosing intentionality
- Spread the Good News - (Matthew 4:17-23) You are committed to spreading the kingdom of God through various ministry opportunities including sharing God’s story through your World Race blog weekly.
- Make Disciples - (Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Timothy 2:2) You are committed to making disciples of all nations, that is to show others to live and love like Jesus as you do the same. This includes learning and understanding culture and sharing in a way that people are able to understand and follow you as you follow Christ. We expect you to disciple others according to 2 Timothy 2:2, helping each other to grow in faith while speaking truth in love.
- Love all - (Luke 4:18-20, Matt 22:37-40) You are committed to seeing and treating all people as beloved. You will partner with the Father to reverse oppression in its various forms through sacrificial love.
*All Racers are expected to submit to each program’s 101 Policy and Rule Guidelines
Explore ALL World Race programs!
An Open House is the chance for you and your family to join us at the World Race Headquarters in Gainesville, Ga for either full day or half day experiences. You will hear from our leadership, meet the staff and alumni, and learn all about the World Race, World Race: Gap Year, World Race: Semesters, and Global U.
Sign up for an upcoming Open HouseFAQ's
What countries does World Race: Semesters go to?
Semesters trips have gone to countries all over the world, including Kenya, Swaziland, Uganda, Israel, India, Peru, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Thailand, Philippines, Tanzania, Guatemala, Mexico and more.
How long is Semesters?
Semesters trips launch in January, June, July, and September and can be anywhere from 1-3 months long.
- Spring: 3 Month Trips from January - March
- Summer: 1 Month Trips in June, 1 Month Trips in July, and 2 Month Trips from June-July
- Fall: 3 Month Trips from September - November
Be the first to know when new trips are available by signing up here.
What will I do while on Semesters?
Ministry looks different on every trip we offer. You can check out the trip descriptions to get an idea of what ministry might look like in each country. We believe ministry is a way of life, not just a daily assignment to complete. Some of your ministry is determined by asking the Lord what He is calling your team to specifically. You may see a need we don't even know exists—and we want you to have the freedom to meet that need!
Remember, the most impactful ministry you're a part of might be the relationship you build with your translator or the vendors at the market where you buy groceries. If you come with an open mind about what God has for you, you won't be disappointed!
What kind of things do I need to pack?
It can be overwhelming to think of packing your entire life into a backpack for several months. We promise it can be done! Once you apply for a trip, you'll find a general packing list on your profile. We'll also send you additional trip specific items after you are committed to go.
What is Training Camp?
You'll spend the first 3 days of your trip in Georgia to participate in Training Camp before you head to the field. During this time you'll meet your team, get to know your leaders, and learn about our values and how to live them out for the Kingdom.
What are World Race's Core Values?
Bringing Kingdom
You will have the opportunity to serve alongside our partner ministry hosts around the world. Whether sharing your faith, praying for the sick, playing with street children, sitting with widows, teaching English, preaching at church, painting buildings, or serving meals, you will be part of bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth.
"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." Matthew 10:8
The Pursuit of God
Our hope is for you to become completely dependent on God. The journey away from the familiar is essential to this goal. Even if you have good world views and theology, you must learn to develop your own pursuit of God. To achieve this we believe you must journey away from the comfort of family, the security of friends, and the predictability of your everyday lives.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." Hebrews 12:1-2
Engaging the Holy Spirit
We encourage you to learn the discipline of listening prayer. Through this, you develop a two-way conversation with God and can more easily be led by the Holy Spirit. Our desire is for you to walk in the authority God has given you as sons and daughters.
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me." John 10:27
Community and Healthy Communication
Safe communities where conflict is managed in a healthy way and feedback is a norm is not common in our society. Living in a close community provides an immediate opportunity to learn humility and selflessness. You will be encouraged to give and receive honest feedback with peers and leaders. Feedback is a tool used to help you reach their fullest potential through sharing both positive and constructive observations.
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15
Can I defer my student loans while participating in Semesters?
We can not guarantee this, however many participants have successfully deferred student loan repayment while participating in mission trips with Adventures in Missions. For specific information relating to your student loan, please contact your loan provider. If your loan provider requests a letter regarding your participation the World Race, please let your Admissions Advisor know, and they can help you with that request.
What can I expect from you?
A desire for you to succeed
Our desire is for this trip to be the best possible experience for you. Our core values exist because we want to see you reach your fullest potential. The leaders we place on the field are committed to investing in you. As staff, we read all of your blogs, pray for your teams regularly, rejoice in your victories and mourn in your losses. While we may only spend a short time with you, we truly want to see greatness in you.
Communication
We are committed to keeping you and your family informed in case of an emergency. Should you become seriously sick or involved an accident, your emergency contacts will be notified as soon as possible. In the case of an emergency in country (such as a natural disaster), the team leader will update staff at our headquarters in Gainesville, GA, and we will communicate information to you and your family promptly.
Should your family need to get in touch with you overseas in case of an emergency at home, they can reach us at 770-983-1060.
Emergency Travel Arrangements
On rare occasions, you may need to return home early. Reasons include but are not limited to: illnesses on the field that needs to be treated at home, an emergency at home requiring your return, or your inability or unwillingness to engage with the team or ministry on the field. (Please note, MissionSafe must be involved in all medical related travel needs.) Whether an early return is voluntary or not, we will work with you to arrange travel plans and rebook flights as necessary.
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